Fishing reel

Abstract

A fishing reel includes a spool disk, a handle disk mounted coaxially and in juxtaposition with the spool disk, a winding handle or crank affixed to the handle disk, and a brake mechanism, including an actuator incorporated in the handle, for applying a drag braking torque between the spool disk and the handle disk. The braking torque is controllable by a user by squeezing the handle while holding the handle for cranking. Accordingly, the user does not have to let go of the winding handle in order to apply or vary the drag.

1. A fishing reel comprising:
 a spool, including a spool disk; 
 a handle disk mounted coaxially and rotatably with respect to said spool disk and in juxtaposition thereto; 
 a winding handle affixed off-center to said handle disk; and 
 a brake mechanism, including an actuator incorporated in said handle, for applying a braking torque between said spool disk and said handle disk, said braking torque being controllable by a user by squeezing said handle while holding said handle for cranking. 
 
   
   
     2. A fishing reel comprising:
 a spool for winding a fishing line; 
 a handle disk mounted coaxially and rotatably with respect to said spool and in juxtaposition thereto, and having a winding handle mounted off-center thereon; 
 a brake for applying a drag braking force between said spool and said handle disk; 
 said winding handle comprising a brake button system incorporated in said winding handle and being coupled to said brake for applying said brake responsive to finger squeezing pressure being applied to said winding handle and in accordance with said finger squeezing pressure. 
 
   
   
     3. A fishing reel as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said brake button system comprises;
 at least a first brake button; 
 a cam apparatus coupled to said first brake button and further coupled to said brake. 
 
   
   
     4. A fishing reel as recited in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said brake comprises a brake pad for bearing against a surface portion of said spool for applying a friction braking force thereto; and 
 said cam apparatus comprises a conical or tapered washer coupled between said brake button and said brake pad such that finger pressure applied to said brake button causes said washer to exert a force against said pad so as to increase said friction braking force. 
 
   
   
     5. A fishing reel as recited in  claim 3 , wherein:
 said brake button system comprises first and second brake buttons; 
 said brake comprises first and second brake pads for bearing against said surface portion of said spool for applying a friction braking force thereto; and 
 said cam apparatus comprises a conical or tapered washer coupled between (a) said first and second brake buttons and (b) said first and second brake pads, such that finger pressure applied to said first and second brake buttons tending to squeeze them together causes said conical washer to exert a force against said pads so as to increase said friction braking force. 
 
   
   
     6. A fishing reel comprising:
 a spool for winding a fishing line, including a spool disk; 
 a handle disk mounted coaxially and rotatably with respect to said spool disk and in juxtaposition thereto, and having a winding handle mounted off-center thereon; 
 a brake for applying a drag braking force between said spool and said handle disk said brake being responsive to a brake actuation force; and 
 said winding handle comprising a pressure sensitive brake actuating mechanism incorporated in said winding handle and being responsive to finger squeezing pressure on said winding handle for applying said brake actuation force for actuating said brake. 
 
   
   
     7. A fishing reel as recited in  claim 6  wherein said winding handle comprises a button mechanism and at least one captive brake pad arranged such that, when a user squeezes said winding handle, said button mechanism acts to cause application of said brake by urging said at least one brake pad into contact with said spool disk, thereby generating a frictional torque between said spool disk and said handle disk. 
   
   
     8. A fishing reel as recited in  claim 7  wherein said button mechanism operates by utilizing an inclined surface to produce a force on said at least one captive brake pad. 
   
   
     9. A fishing reel as recited in  claim 7  wherein said button comprises two halves of a hollow cylindrical body arranged such that when said two halves are pressed together by a user, a respective tapered washer at each end of said two halves operates as an inclined plane to tend to slide out axially and exert a force against a constraint on one side, and to exert a force against said at least one captive brake pad, respectively. 
   
   
     10. A fishing reel as recited in  claim 7  wherein said button comprises two halves of a hollow cylindrical body arranged such that when said two halves are pressed together by a user, a respective tapered washer at each end of said two halves operates on an “inclined plane principle” to tend to slide out axially and exert a force against a constraint of said winding handle on one side, and to exert a force against said at least one captive brake pad on the other side, respectively. 
   
   
     11. A fishing reel comprising:
 a spool for winding a fishing line; 
 a handle disk having a winding handle thereon; 
 a brake for applying a drag braking force between said spool and said handle disk; 
 said winding handle including an actuating mechanism for said brake, said mechanism being adapted to respond to finger pressure of a user's fingers squeezing said winding handle while holding said winding handle normally for winding said reel so as to apply said brake as a function of said finger pressure so that said user's fingers do not have to leave said winding handle to operate said brake. 
 
   
   
     12. A fishing reel comprising:
 a spool, including a spool disk; 
 a handle disk mounted concentrically juxtaposed to said spool disk; 
 a brake mounted on said handle disk for applying a braking force between said spool disk and said handle disk; 
 a dual purpose reel handle mounted on said spool disk, said reel handle comprising a finger grip portion adapted for being grasped by a user's fingers for winding said reel; and 
 said reel handle comprising a brake actuator coupled between said finger grip portion and said brake, such that squeezing said finger grip portion by said user's fingers causes said actuator to apply said brake in accordance with said pressure. 
 
   
   
     13. A fishing reel comprising:
 a spool adapted for rotatably mounting on an axle and coupled to a spool disk for rotation therewith; 
 a handle disk rotatably mounted concentrically with and in juxtaposition to said spool disk; 
 a drag brake pad arrangement mounted on said handle disk and bearing against said spool disk with a controllable braking force for providing braking between said spool disk and said handle disk; 
 a handle, comprising a generally cylindrical hollow handle housing rotatably mounted on said handle, said handle housing exhibiting an opening in a cylindrical wall thereof; and 
 a brake actuating mechanism disposed in said handle housing and being coupled to said drag brake pad arrangement for controlling said braking force, said mechanism comprising a brake button accessible to a user's fingers through said opening while gripping said handle for cranking said handle disk. 
 
   
   
     14. A fishing reel in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said mechanism comprises:
 a cam element, exhibiting an inclined surface and an end surface, said cam element being disposed in said housing such that pressing said brake button causes said brake button to press against said inclined surface thereby causing said end surface to push against said drag brake pad. 
 
   
   
     15. A fishing reel comprising:
 a housing, including an axle; 
 a spool, including a spool disk, rotatably mounted on said axle; 
 a handle disk rotatably mounted concentrically with and in juxtaposition to said spool disk; 
 first and second drag brake pads mounted on said handle disk and bearing against said spool disk with a controllable braking force for providing braking between said spool disk and said handle disk; 
 a generally cylindrical hollow handle housing rotatably mounted on said handle disk and adapted for gripping by a user's fingers for cranking said handle disk, said handle housing exhibiting first and second diametrically opposed openings in a cylindrical wall thereof; and 
 a brake actuating mechanism disposed in said handle housing and being coupled to said drag brake pads for controlling said braking force, said mechanism comprising first and second brake buttons accessible through said first and second openings, respectively, to a user's fingers while gripping said handle for cranking said handle disk. 
 
   
   
     16. A fishing reel in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein:
 said brake actuating mechanism comprises first and second brake buttons accessible for being squeezed together through said first and second openings, respectively, by said user's fingers; and 
 a cam element, exhibiting an inclined surface and an end surface, disposed in said housing such that squeezing together said first and second brake button causes said brake buttons to press against said inclined surface thereby causing said end surface to push against said drag brake pads. 
 
   
   
     17. A fishing reel in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein:
 said brake actuating mechanism comprises first and second brake buttons accessible for being squeezed together through said first and second openings, respectively, by said user's fingers; and 
 a tapered washer having a an inclined surface and a flat surface disposed in said housing between said brake buttons and said drag brake pads such that squeezing together said first and second brake button causes said brake buttons to press against said inclined surface thereby urging said flat surface to move in a direction towards said drag brake pads; and 
 a resilient or elastic element interposed between said flat surface and said drag brake pads such that gradually squeezing together said first and second brake button causes said brake buttons to apply a progressively increasing braking force. 
 
   
   
     18. A fishing reel in accordance with  claim 17 , including:
 a further tapered washer having an inclined surface and a flat surface disposed in said housing such that squeezing together said first and second brake button causes said brake buttons to press against said inclined surface of said further tapered washer thereby urging said flat surface to move in a direction away from said drag brake pads; and 
 an axle passing through bearings in said generally cylindrical hollow handle housing, said axle having one end thereof affixed to said handle disk and the other end thereof forming an endstop for said handle housing and thereby preventing movement of said flat surface of said further tapered washer. 
 
   
   
     19. A fishing reel in accordance with  claim 18 , including:
 a resilient or elastic element interposed between said flat surface of said further tapered washer and said endstop. 
 
   
   
     20. A fishing reel in accordance with  claim 19 , including:
 an adjustable brake mounted on said handle disk for providing a base level drag between said spool disk and said handle disk. 
 
   
   
     21. A fishing reel in accordance with  claim 20 , including:
 an adjustable brake mounted on said housing for providing a standard drag level drag between said spool disk and said handle disk. 
 
   
   
     22. A fishing reel comprising:
 a reel housing; 
 a main axle affixed to a wall of said reel housing; 
 a spool having a flange and having a hollow shaft rotatably mounted concentrically on said main axle; 
 a spool disk rotatably mounted concentrically on said main axle and coupled to said hollow shaft for rotation therewith; 
 a handle disk having thereon a handle, said handle comprising a handle housing or cage; 
 a catch unit affixed to said spool disk, said catch unit having a latching mechanism to maintain a home position on said main axle and having a bearing portion for retaining said handle disk in coaxial and freely rotatable relationship to said spool disk; 
 a brake system mounted on said handle reel for providing a controllable drag braking force acting between said spool disk and said handle disk for resisting relative motion between the two to the extent of the braking force provided by said brake system comprising first and second friction pads located in respective holes in said handle disk and bearing upon a surface of said spool disk; and 
 a brake control system being situated in said handle and comprising:
 an axle screw passing through bearings in said handle housing and being affixed to said handle disk, said screw exhibiting a screw head for acting as a stop against said housing moving away from said handle disk; 
 first and second brake buttons arranged on opposite sides of said axle screw and being accessible for user finger pressure through respective diametrically opposed first and second openings in said handle housing, 
 first and second conical washers slidably mounted concentrically on said axle screw and so oriented that squeezing said brake buttons together causes said brake buttons to press against said conical washers in “inclined plane fashion” and so tending to urge greater separation between said washers, wherein movement of said second conical washer is constrained by said handle housing, and 
 a spacer arrangement interposed between (a) said first conical washer and (b) said first and second friction pads for transferring force between said first conical washer and said friction pads. 
 
 
   
   
     23. A fishing reel as recited in  claim 22  wherein said spacer comprises a resilient foam washer such that gradually squeezing together said first and second brake button causes said brake buttons to apply a gradually increasing braking force. 
   
   
     24. A fishing reel as recited in  claim 23  wherein said brake pads are made of a synthetic material. 
   
   
     25. A fishing reel as recited in  claim 24  wherein said brake pads bear upon a groove formed in said surface of said spool disk. 
   
   
     26. A fishing reel in accordance with  claim 22 , including:
 an adjustable brake mounted on said handle disk for providing a base level drag between said spool disk and said handle disk. 
 
   
   
     27. A fishing reel in accordance with  claim 26 , including:
 an adjustable brake mounted on said housing for providing a standard drag level drag between said spool disk and said handle disk. 
 
   
   
     28. A fishing reel comprising:
 a spool disk; 
 a handle disk mounted coaxially and rotatable with respect to said spool disk and in juxtaposition thereto; 
 a winding handle mounted off-center on said handle disk; and 
 means incorporated in said winding handle for controlling a braking force between said spool disk and said handle disk, comprising: 
 means for providing said braking force responsive to a brake actuation force; 
 means for deriving said brake actuation force from finger squeezing pressure applied to said winding handle; and 
 means for applying said brake actuation force to said means for providing a braking force. 
 
   
   
     29. A fishing reel comprising:
 a handle disk having a crank handle for cranking said reel mounted off-center thereon; 
 a brake between said reel and said handle disk for providing a drag force for said reel; and 
 a pressure-responsive brake actuating mechanism incorporated in said crank handle and coupled to said brake, said mechanism being responsive to said crank handle being squeezed with a given pressure for controlling said brake so as to control said drag force to a value determined by said given pressure. 
 
   
   
     30. A method for controlling a braking force for a fishing reel spool comprising:
 providing a brake between said spool and a handle disk; 
 providing a winding handle mounted off-center on said handle disk; 
 providing a pressure-responsive brake actuating mechanism incorporated in said winding handle; 
 applying finger squeezing pressure to said winding handle for deriving a brake actuation force from said pressure-responsive brake actuating mechanism; and 
 applying said brake actuation force to said brake for causing said brake to operate.